Collapsible sidewalk sign support



Feb. 8, 1938. R. w. LOTZ GOLLAPSIBLE SIDEWALK SIGN SUPPORT Fiipd Aug. 1e, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE SIDEWALK SIGN SUPPORT Rudolph W. Lotz, Chicago, Ill.,

assgnor to Schneider Iron Works, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 16, 1937, Serial No. 159,260

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible sidewalk sign supports which are cheap, durable and efficient and which may be folded to occupy a very small space so as to enable them to be packed and shipped in very flat cartons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can be very easily set up and collapsed, respectively, by unskilled persons.

The invention is capable of being variously embodied and in the accompanying drawings there are illustrated two suitable embodiments thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred l5 form of embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same when collapsed or folded up ready to be inserted'into a flatl carton of a depth substantially equal to the width of the metallic elements, mainly channel bars, of which the structure is composed.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary detail sectional views on an enlarged scale taken respectively on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same showing the parts in position in full lines preparatory to disposing them in the position of Fig. 5 and in the dotted line position of Fig. 6.

Figs. '7 and 8 are fragmentary detail sectional views on an enlarged scale taken, respectively, on the lines 'I-l and 8-8 of Fig. 5.`

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the upper end of one of the supporting legs of the structure.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the sign support comprises the U-shaped member I composed of a strip of channel bar, preferably.

The terminal portions of the arms of said member I are offset inwardly from the main portions of said arms as at 2, and to said offset portions 2 there is pivoted a swinging frame 3 of a suitable type and shape. Said frame 3 is adapted to carry the sign to be displayed or may constitute a permanent portion of such sign.

Pivotally secured to the arms of said U-shaped frame I between the ends of the latter, are the arms 4 of a U-shaped support 5, also composed of channel bar, having outwardly projecting flanges,

as shown in Fig. 4. The pivoted connections between the arms 4 (which are the equivalent of legs) and the U-shaped member I are effected by means of rivets I. Spaced from each of said rivets 6 is an opening in each of said arms. 4

which is adapted to receive a pivot member 'I extending through the same and through a spacing sleeve 'Ia and the terminal end portion 8 of an arm S of the U-shaped support I U. The said terminal end portion 8 of each of the arms 9 is 5 oiiset slightly inwardly from the body portions thereof and the arms 9 of the member I0 are thus pivotally secured to the arms 4 of the member 5. Each of the arms 9 is pivotally secured between its ends to the U-shaped member I by means of 10 a suitable bolt II which extends through a spacing sleeve I2 disposed between the arm 9 and an arm of said U-shaped member I through which the bolt I I projects.l

The bolt I I is removable digitally to effect col- 15 lapsing of the structure shown in Figs. 1 4 inclusive when the several component parts of the structure are disposed as shown in Fig. 1. The several connections of the supports 5 and l0 with the member I are vertically aligned with each other and are so held by the bolt Il when the middle portions of said supports 5 and I0 rest upon the side-walk. A

When the member I is vertically disposed, the View of the sign carried by the member 3 is un- 25 obstructed by any portion of the respective supporting members 4 and I D and is only slightly obstructed, when viewed from an angle, by the arms of the supporting members 5 and I0.

By removing the bolt I I, the supports 5 and ID 30 are folded so that their side edges are aligned with each other and with the side edges of the arms of the member I and the side edges of the member 3, thus enabling the device to be disposed in a carton of a Width substantially equal to the width of said arms and middle portion of the member I and of the members 5 and Ill, as shown in Fig. 2.

Obviously, the middle or crossbar portions of the arms or legs 4 and 9 may be omitted if de- 40 sired, said arms constituting supporting legs whether connected, as shown, or not.

In the structure of Figs. 5-9 inclusive, the legs I3 are pivotally secured at their upper ends to points between the ends of the arms of the mem- 45 ber I4, which corresponds with the member I and which carries a member I5 corresponding with the member 3. Said legs I3 are composed of channel bars disposed with their flanges extending outwardly and each thereof is equipped 50 between its ends with a stud I 6 shown in detail in Fig. '7 which is equipped with an enlarged head.

The legs Il, also composed of channel bars having their flanges disposed outwardly, are secured between their ends to the lower end por- 55 tion of the member I4 by means of suitable pivot members I8. Each of the legs II is provided at its upper end with a stud I9 mounted upon the rear face of the said leg and which is spaced from the pivot I8 the same distance as the pivotal connection 20 between each leg I3 and said member I4 is spaced from said pivot I 8.

When the parts, I3, I4 and I1 above described are disposed inthe full line position of Fig. 6, the upper end portions of the legs I1 are swung clockwise to cause the studs I9 to pass into channels of the bars I3 until said studs I9 engage the studs I6, as shown in Fig. 7. Thesaid studs I' constitute sto-p formations which will prevent become disposed in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and in full lines, inkrFig.. 5. Tl1e,saicl -L studs IB and I9 become inter-engaged bymeans of their overlapping flanges 22 to prevent relative lateral movementsof thelegs. I3.andr I'ivand thus effect a strengthening of the structure as will be obvious.

In .the instance illustratedthe legs. I3 lmay be arms of a U-'shaped member such as is shown in Figjlgwhereas the. legs/*|31 must befree of such cros"s-bar connection,.to',render thern capable of being folded upwardly so that their longer ends are flushwith they sidelfedges of the ,upper portions o-f the arms of the member Waiter the legs I3 have.A been similarly,,swungY upwardly .on .their pivolts. .20, whereupo-naall will be. disposed flush With-.the,members I4 and I5.','

The pivot vI8 necessarily includes ya spacing sleeve 2 I. shown in,Fig. 8 to'v enable said legsyto be folded .aslastabove' described.

An advantage ."off .the structure ^of .Figs-.59 inclusive', over the. structure o-f Figs. 144, resides in the fact thatthe personsetting up the sign i'sinot req'uiredto insertl any bolts or screws and this advantage, `of courseis pre/sent ,also in collapsing the structure.

In 'the appended claims the members I and I 4. I, y

named V-shaped formation, and means engaging aretermed. ,sign-carriers? or ,ffsigng supports, it being obviou'sthatthemembers. 3 and` may be deemed., to constitute parts of .thesignsto be ldisplayed Iblair'h as my invention.; v1. lAcollapsible sidewalk sign support comprisinga sign,4 carryingnember, apair of vsupporting legspivotally secured attheir ends to thesame at points ,between the .upper .and lower ends thereof, a, secondpair of supporting legspivotally secured to the'rst-'nam'ecl legsbetweenthfeends of they latter. and'adapted tof extend substantially per-v pendicularly theretotwhe'nsaid legsl are disposed in supportingV positiony relatively to saidl carrier and means detachably securing the secondpair of legs tothelowerend Yportionofsaid 4carrier-.at a pointr spaced from'` both. .said pivotal connections.

2. A sidewalk s'ign 'suppo "rtf comprising a 'sign carrier, twor pairsof suppe;I inverted .V-shapedl formation, one pair of .said

legs pivot/allyr secured'to themsign carrier at aV .point spaced appreciably from the .bottom thereof andthe other pairef saidlegssecured between theirends to the lower end portion of said kcarrier'atkpoints spaced fromthe upper ends of said ing legs ldis'posed legs, the upper extremities of said second pair of legs being engaged with the first-named pair of legs at points spaced from the pivotal connection of the latter with said carrier.

3. A sidewalk sign support comprising a vertically disposed sign carrier, a pair of normally angularly disposed outwardly extending legs pivotally secured at their upper ends to the sides of the carrier atpoints spaced appreciably above the bottom ofthe latter, a second pair of legs engaged at their upper extremities with the rstnamed pair of legs at points spaced from the upperextremities of .the latter and extending at an opposite incline thereto and connection between the second pair of legs and the lower end portionA of the carrier at points spaced from the upper extremities of said second pair of legs.

4. A Isidewall: signwsupport comprising a vertically disposed sign carrier, two pairs of legs extending in inverted V-shaped formation relatively to each other with theupper extremities ofl one of ysa'idfpaisy oflegsfvengaged Withftheother pair of legs at points spaced. from vthe upper yextremitiesofthe latter, connection betweennthe spaced from their uppereXtremities-with the lower. endof theside portions of the carrier, said soy legs beinghoffset laterallyA from leach other and one pair thereof having a detachable connection vincluded within the above mentioned connections for permitting collapsingof the structure. f

5. A sidewalk sign support comprisinga vertically disposed ysign carrier, .tv/o pairs of supportinglegs disposed in inverted'V-shaped formation relatively vto each other with the .upper extremities of` one'pairbf legs engagedwith points spaced from the upper extremities of theother pair of legs Wherebymt'o cause the upper endportions vof bothv pairsof legs to .provide a V-shaped formation disposedsubstantially perpendicularly toithersttremities of` one pair of .legs vengagedwith points spaced fromitheprupper'extremities ofthe other pair vof legs whereby to cause the upperendportions of, both pairs of legs to provide la V-shaped formation disposed substantially `.perpendieularly to the first-named V-shaped. formation.. and

meansr engaging both pairs ofls'aid. legs toV said carrier at pointsinsaid legsdisposed in the .ver-Y tical yplane* of the carrier whereby to cause the lattery to cooperate with said last-named V-shaped formation to define a triangle, the engagement of one of said pairs oflegs with onerof .the parts engaged thereby being detachable to permit collapsing of the structure.

RUDOLPH WM. LOTZ. 

